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All families should be valued in South Dakota

Written by cp Wednesday, 23 July 2008 20:59

(Editorial Page, Rapid City Journal, Saturday, July 19, 2008)

I found it ironic to read Rev. Richard Wells exhortation to fear and trepidation in the face of the "gay marriage" decision by the California Supreme Court ("A Hope and a Prayer for California," July 12) on the same day as parents, children, and friends gathered at the Shrine of Democracy for Black Hills Pride Fest. At Mount Rushmore, we shared the peace and joy that blooms when everyone is accepted for who they are, especially including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. What exactly makes Rev. Wells' "blood run cold?" What is he so afraid of?

Similar words of alarm (accompanied with carefully interpreted Scripture) were (and are) used in the Church to prevent ethnic minorities and women from sharing their gifts as full members of the Church, but (in my view) the Holy Spirit continues to work to open it up to everyone. Happily, especially in the Episcopal Church (of which I am a proud member), our communities are becoming ever-richer as we fully include more and more persons that in the past have been simply shut out from our common life.

Meanwhile, as shrill heralds continue to warn that the sky is falling, the citizens of California, (and six other states) are quietly living with "civil union" and "gay marriage" laws in force. Despite dire predictions, straight people are not abandoning marriages in droves; in fact, nothing alarming has occurred at all. However, people (and especially their children) are changing their views on this subject. In May, the Field poll reported (for the first time) that a majority of Californians favor "gay marriage." Across our Nation, gay and straight citizens alike are "coming out" and speaking the truth that there is nothing to fear from treating everyone fairly and with respect. People are wondering why their LGBT friends and family members do not deserve the same legal protections as everyone else. In most states (including South Dakota), you can be fired from a job, or denied housing, simply because of sexual orientation. Also, if you are LGBT, our State Constitution's Amendment C explicitly restricts your family from having rights that others have. The "egregious" unfairness of this law is one of the things that encouraged the founding of Equality South Dakota in 2007. It turned out that many South Dakotans agree. That same Amendment C, carefully crafted to hold the line on advances of equality and fairness at the hands of "activist" judges (not to mention our notoriously libertarian South Dakotan legislators and voters) with an iron-clad State Constitutional Amendment, was nearly defeated in 2006, and may yet have a thankfully short life. Not surprisingly, the measure was defeated in many conservative, liberty-loving precincts right here in Rapid City.

Rev. Wells was absolutely correct when he quoted Aretha Franklin saying that what's at stake is r-e-s-p-e-c-t. Marriage equality will respect the rights of all citizens (including LGBT folk) and their families to live in liberty, freedom, and integrity with their God and their fellow humans. This day is coming and it is not to be feared; in fact, it is something to joyfully celebrate!

Curtis Price is a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Rapid City, SD Network Coordinator of Integrity USA, and Treasurer of Equality South Dakota.

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